I've started this blog as an open forum to discuss current topics in the news in a "Point - Counter Point" manner. By using this method of debate, I seek to encourage all to lend their voices and opinions by weighing in on the current days topics up for discussion. Welcome to POINT - COUNTER POINT.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

The panel for Dark Shadows was packed
with both fans of the Dark Shadows soap opera and the new movie debuting on May
11th 2012. The newer rendition will be starring Johnny Depp, Helen Bonhem Carter and Michelle
Phiffer and directed by Tim Burton (who is also a huge fan of the series). The
panel consisted of the original characters from the series Kathryn Lee Scott
who played Maggie Evans and from the Skype webcam, Laura Parker who played
Angelique Bouchard. The panel was mostly about the new movie coming out and
their experiences on set.

Both women agreed it was an experience that they never
expected. Some of the original characters were on set of the new movie
including the original Barnabas Collins played by Jonathan Frid (now played
by Johnny Depp). Ms. Scott described both men holding the same cane from the
series and Mr. Frid making a comment to Depp about his new hair style. Ms.
Scott explained that she never expected the set to be as big as they are in
because when they shot the series back in the 70’s the set was about the size
of the area we were sitting in (it was big but not for a big production like
they did).

After the series, both women wrote books about Dark Shadows. Ms. Parker wrote Angelique’s Decent, which is a sequel to the Dark Shadows: The
Salem Branch (which also will be re-released with a different book cover print)
and Ms. Lee Scott wrote about Dark Shadows. One most recently, Dark Passages,
in which she was signing later on that day.

Personally speaking, I initially got into the whole 'Dark Shadows' phenomenon because I’m a huge Tim Burton fan. From what I saw on the panel along with the rich history and information I got from other Dark Shadows fans in the audience, I’m going out to get the
Dark Shadows series and hopefully be a fan of both the series and the movie!